Immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Bola Tinubu administration, Yusuf Tuggar, has called on residents of Bauchi State to stop blocking Fulani herders from accessing grazing routes, linking land use disputes to rising insecurity in parts of the country.
Tuggar made the remarks on Sunday during an interaction with journalists in Bauchi, where he spoke on the causes of banditry and other security challenges ahead of his governorship ambition in the state.
He argued that the ongoing tensions between farmers and herders are largely driven by restrictions on grazing and the growing pressure on available land resources.
According to him, the situation has been worsened by the encroachment on designated grazing areas and the underutilisation of farmlands, which he said has created economic hardship in rural communities.
Tuggar maintained that when pastoralists are denied access to grazing routes and agricultural lands are not effectively utilised, it increases frustration that can escalate into insecurity.
He stressed that both farming and pastoralism remain legitimate livelihoods and must be properly managed through structured land use policies that promote coexistence.
The former minister called for stronger collaboration among traditional rulers, local government authorities, and communities to address land-related disputes and reduce farmer-herder tensions.
He added that tackling land use imbalance, alongside addressing unemployment and economic exclusion, would play a key role in reducing insecurity and promoting stability in Bauchi State and beyond.
